Substance Abuse in Nurse Anesthetists

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the problem of substance abuse in the healthcare profession, choosing to focus on nurse anesthetists. The paper examines the risk indicators that could attribute to substance abuse. The author also analyzes the susceptibility of nurses succumbing to the temptations of drug use as they have easy access to highly potent drugs.

Contents:
Introduction
Prevalence of Substance Abuse Among Health Care Professionals
The Actual Risk Indicators
Family History and Genetic Predisposition
Work-related Stressors
Work-related Stressors of Nurse Anesthetists
Other Stressors Outside Work
Easy Availability of Drugs
Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse
The Stigma on Nurses Suffering From Substance Abuse
The Conspiracy of Silence
Management of a Nurse with Substance Abuse
Conclusion
Bibliography

From the Paper:

"In reality, there is more to the physicians and nurses than an unstained white uniform. They too, after all, are humans. Like any other person, they can be easily broken by stresses that come with their chosen occupations. They too, get sick. However, because they have been trained all these years to provide care to heal the sick, they find themselves in a confusing position when it is their turn to seek for help. Instead of seeking help, they attempt to solve their own problems. Some of them reach a point when they are in denial that they have problems at all."

Sample of Sources Used:

• American Association of Family Physicians. (2006). Physicians impaired. [Online] Retrieved Feb. 22, 2008 from the Website: http://www.aafp.org/online/home/policy/policies/p/physiciansimpaired.html.
• Berry, A.J. (2006). Adverse events may have two victims. [Online] Retrieved Feb. 22, 2008 from the Website: http://www.apsf.orrg/resource_center/newsletter/2006/spring/04twovictims.htm.
• Blondell, R.D. (2005). "Taking a proactive approach to physician impairment." Postgrad Med, 118(1): 16-18.
• Booth, J.V., Grossman, D., Moore, J., Lineberger, C., Reynolds, J.D., Reves, J.G. & Sheffield, D. (2002). "Substance abuse among physicians: A survey of academic anesthesiology programs." Anesthesia & Analgesia, 95: 1024-30.
• Brennan, S.J. (1991). "Recognizing and assisting the impaired nurse: Recommendations for nurse managers." Nursing Forum, 26(2): 12-17.

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